Engineering External Relations Senior Artist Philip John Biebl is the 2001 recipient of the Ragnar E. Onstad Service to Society Award.

Biebl currently serves as co-chair of the Human Concerns and Social Justice Commission at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Madison. The commission's purpose is to assist St. Bernards in its mission of social justice within the parish and beyond. This effort encompasses programs such as the Luke House Community Meal Program, St. Vincent de Paul charity work, the Parish Nursing Program, nursing home visits and other community projects. The committee is also responsible for outreach to community members in physical, emotional and/or financial need.

Biebl co-founded and continues to organize St. Bernard's volunteer effort for Luke House Community Meal Program. The program regularly serves meals to anyone in need. Every month for the past seven years, Biebl and members of St. Bernard's have prepared and served meals. Biebl is continually recruiting new volunteers to maintain the effort.

From 1997 to 2000, Biebl served as parish council secretary and volunteered for various other St. Bernard committees during his three-year term. From 1990 to 1992, he was involved with the Interreligious voice for Peace and Justice. He worked with the group to raise awareness in Madison regarding peace and justice issues during the Gulf War.

Whether it is checking in on an elderly neighbor or lending his artistic talents to community efforts, Biebl finds ways to make a difference every day. For example, each morning he launches his web browser and visits www.thehungersite.com. He clicks on three links that, in exchange for the visit, agree to send food, clothing, and medicine to the world's needy. This is a small example of a simple action that many people take, but it's important because it demonstrates one of the many ways that Biebl translates good intentions into action every day.

Biebl graduated from UW-Madison with a BS in fine arts in 1975. In 1984 he earned a commercial art degree from Madison Area Technical College. Before joining the College of Engineering in 1990, he worked as a graphic design manager for Wisconsin Public Radio and Television.